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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Put Your Clown Nose On And Inspire

I don't
know about you, but I really like the idea of being an inspiration. Okay, so
maybe I don't go so far as to don a red rubber nose or big, blue shoes that flop with each step, but inducing grins, lifting spirits, stirring confidence, boosting courage, all of these things energize me and make me feel alive. Bringing people up is so much
more fun and rewarding than knocking them down. I often encounter grumps and
wonder how they make it through the day. You know the type, people whose brows
are pinched, who constantly frown, and who can't find a positive thing to say
to anyone about anything—but enough about the "Negative Nelsons and
Nellys" of the world. This post is about making a positive impact, which
is something that some people just don't understand and never will.

Inspiring
others isn't all that difficult. It doesn't cost a lot of money. It doesn't
take a great deal of effort. Here are a few simple suggestions on how you can
become an inspiration:

Smile

Max
Eastman said, "A smile is the universal welcome." He was right. I
have found that a smile is a lot like the common cold—infectious (thankfully, a
smile doesn't make your nose run). When I offer a smile of greeting, nine
people out of ten will smile back. I've heard it said that the eyes are the
window to the soul. I'd take that a step further and claim that a smile is the
light that tells people you're home…you're engaged…you're interested…and, most
importantly,they matter.
I've also learned that a smile will often confuse an approaching frown. I know I
shouldn't take such delight in confounding the grumps out there, but nothing
fills me with more joy than forcing a pair of pursed lips to curl up at the
corners.

Show a
little concern

I can't
tell you how many cashiers I have stunned with a sincere, "How are you
doing today?" Of course, the question is so overused that it often goes
unheard. But it's the delivery that matters. Asked in a heartfelt manner,
cashiers (or bank tellers, or department store clerks, or…you get the idea)
will stop what they're doing, they'll look me in the eye, they'll smile and
answer, and most often they'll ask me how I'm doing in return. For that one
moment, we truly connect. Letting people know you genuinely care has an
extremely positive effect.

Look
for the good

We seem
to have no problem telling the server that our chicken is tough, or our
potatoes are cold. We're often too quick to complain to the theater attendant
that the air temperature isn't just right. Have you ever stopped to think how
rarely people hear praise? When someone offers you a compliment, how does it
make you feel? Well, think how great it would be to go around sprinkling that
good feeling on everyone like it was fairy dust. It isn't difficult to say
something nice, and that one compliment you give could be the only one that
person hears all day long. Just think! One small show of appreciation could
make someone's spirit soar.

There you
have it…three easy tips that will set you on your way to being an inspiration
in the lives of family, friends, and strangers alike. And once you start
putting these suggestions into practice, I'm sure you'll find that YOU are the
one who is most changed for the good. Now please don't get me wrong. Even
though I've talked of rubber noses, smiles, and compliments, I do know that
life isn't always a fun-filled circus. However, developing a habit of thinking
of others, being connected and centered, making a conscious effort to notice
those around you rather than moving through life on auto-pilot, showing honest
caring and kindness toward those you meet, will give you an attitude of
gratitude, and scientists are learning that a healthy mental outlook is a
powerful contributor toward living a happy life.

Donna
Fasano is a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, and an all-round happy
individual. Oh, and she just happens to be a USA TODAY Bestselling Author. You can learn more about her at
her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter. She loves to hear from her
readers.

8 comments:

I was thinking about the smiling thing and how sometimes random people smile at you, which is so nice, but you think, have they mistaken me for someone else? -- when they were probably just being nice. Smiling works wonders.

I flew back from the Romance Writers of America conference on Sunday with about 30 other romance writers on Southwest. That was one of the rowdiest planes I've been on in a long time. We were exhausted but smiled at everyone!

What a timely post, Donna. I was talking to a friend who has a very busy life. The advice given to her was to focus on others by doing more service. I'll have to pass your post along to her and others.

When I teach my yoga class at the college, I tell my students they can drop everything they learn at the door if they wish, but I request that they think "Am I relieving or reliving?" the next time the want to complain. It would change what we say.